By DAYO ADESULU
The Lagos State Government on Thursday launched a major demolition exercise at the Trade Fair Complex in Ojo, targeting illegal buildings, unsafe structures, and developments without statutory approvals.
Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Jubril Gawat, confirmed the operation in a post on X, stressing that the crackdown was necessary to protect infrastructure and public safety.
“The Lagos State Government has begun removal of illegal developments, structures without statutory approvals, defective structures, and buildings erected on road setbacks and drainages in the Trade Fair Complex, Ojo,” Gawat wrote.
Agencies Involved in the Demolition
The operation was carried out by multiple agencies, including:
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Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development
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Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA)
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Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA)
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Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA)
Security agencies and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly were also present to provide backup during the exercise. Bulldozers pulled down marked buildings as traders and shop owners watched with concern about the impact on their businesses.
Why Lagos is Enforcing Demolition Orders
The Sanwo-Olu administration has repeatedly warned against illegal developments, noting that buildings on drainage channels and road setbacks contribute to:
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Flooding
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Traffic congestion
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Urban disorder
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Public safety risks
The state also argued that defective structures endanger lives and must be removed to maintain order in the city.
Expired Amnesty Programme
The demolition comes weeks after Lagos ended its building regularisation amnesty programme, which gave owners of unapproved or irregular structures the chance to legalise them without penalty.
With the grace period over, LASBCA has intensified enforcement across the state, pulling down illegal constructions in areas prone to flooding or urban congestion.
Backlash From Residents
Similar exercises in areas like Oworonshoki have sparked resistance, with affected residents complaining of inadequate notice and massive financial losses. Civil rights groups have also raised concerns about the humanitarian impact of sudden demolitions.
Nonetheless, the government maintains that the action is in the public interest to safeguard infrastructure and restore order in Lagos, one of Africa’s most congested megacities.
